Compound Pulleys Examples

Compound Pulleys

All over the country American flags are raised into the air every morning and lowered later in the evening. A simple machine called a pulley helps a person raise and lower the flag. A pulley is a wheel with a groove in it, and a rope in the groove. The wheel can be any size, and the length of the rope can vary as well. The wheel can also be called a drum or a sheave.

Examples of Compound Pulleys:

A compound pulley is a combination of the simple and moveable pulley. It is sometimes called a combination pulley. It is designed to make the effort less than half the weight of a load. It is common at construction sites where cranes lift heavy steel and concrete objects.

A combination pulley may include more than just two pulleys or ropes. The more pulleys that are added, the longer it may take to lift an object, but it will be much easier to lift the load. Using the compound pulley above, the load will be much easier to lift, though may take a little more time to lift it. The more pulleys that are attached the easier it will be to lift the load.

Compound pulleys are often used on large sailboats using many different ropes and pulleys. They are also used at construction sites which requires the lifting of heavy equipment.

There are also two other types of pulleys: A simple pulley and a moveable pulley. The differences between them are determined by the location and number of wheels and ropes, and the attachment of the wheel and rope.

Pulleys are used in window blinds, on ships to raise and lower sails, elevators, exercise equipment, theater curtains, extension ladders, garage doors and more. Rock climbers also use pulleys to help them climb. As with all simple machines like the pulley, they are designed to help make work easier to do.